It appears that Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon will be able to avoid surgery on the problematic second toe of his right foot, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Instead, Garcon will continue to receive an array of treatments designed to strengthen the toe and the muscles and tendons around it. If his progress continues at its current rate, Garcon is expected to make it through the offseason without surgery and return at 100 percent by the start of the 2013 season, that person said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the Redskins.

Garcon – signed last spring to a five-year, $42.5 million deal with $20.5 million guaranteed – suffered a torn ligament in the second toe of his right foot in Washington’s 2012 season opener at New Orleans. It’s believed the injury occurred on an 88-yard touchdown catch-and-run early in the game.

Garcon missed six of the next eight games because the pain limited his ability to push off the foot, change direction or accelerate. Garcon returned in Week 11 and played the final seven regular season games and the Redskins’ lone playoff appearance.

He finished with 44 catches for a team-high 633 yards and four touchdowns.

At the conclusion of the season, Garcon expressed encouragement at the way he was able to finish playing at a high level despite avoiding surgery on his toe. He said he was hopeful that he could continue to rest his toe and receive treatment on it during the offseason and avoid any surgical procedures.

He is on target to achieve his goal, the source said.

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

Countertrey wrote:Based upon his performance after his return... you may want to consider loading your plate up right now...

Perhaps. He was playing through quite a bit of pain, though. That's not the kind of thing you can do long-term and stay productive.

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

Regardless of whether it does or doesn't, he's the one whose got to live with it.

Totally agree so far as his life/choices are concerned. Where his best interests and the interests of the team diverge, I would hope he'd pick his best interests. I don't know where he's at on a personal level, so I can only talk about the impact I think this is likely to have on the team.

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

Deadskins wrote:Will the tendon repair itself over time? If not, he can't be 100%.

I tore my planar's fascia a few years back and it took about a year of rehab (or rather finding the rehab that allowed it to heal) to get it to 100%

If I'm never running around on it for too long on a given day, I might feel a little pain from it inflaming, but nothing serious.

My doctor told me that I further complicated my progress because I decided to run an extra two miles after I tore it. Stupid mistake I know, but I was a bit oblivious to all the tendons in the foot. I thought it was just some minor muscle strain.

Planar's fascia is the tendon that hold the arch of your foot up, so it does more weight bearing than say a toe (depending on style of walk.

He could be in a walking boot, but with that your calf muscles get weakened but good news is that it only takes about a week or two to get it back to normal (depending on how long you have the boot on).

I'll throw in the infamous saying that "I'm not a doctor", but its kinda hard not to get a pretty good idea of how complicated healing weight bearing tendons can be...particularly in the foot.

Anyway, there's no word on how bad he injured this toe. I was told nearly half of my planar's fascia was torn and that tendon is quite a bit larger than tendons in the toe.

Alright, to wrap up this rant:
1. Foot tendon injuries are stubborn
2. Continue exercise that originally caused the jury lessens your chance for 100% recovery
3. Healing is contingent on proper treatment, patient cooperation, and the individual (apparently I got screwed in genetics and am a slow healer)

Stem cell injections is an interesting point. I'd love to know what's going on with that as well.

From what I was told from my podiatrist, foot surgeries have a high complication rate (she may have just been referring to my particular tendon). However I have no idea how that would translate to the toe...I'd imagine its the same odds or close (75% success, 25% worse than before) just based on Garcon's struggle to make a quick decision.

It's not "always best" to avoid the knife. It's best to avoid it if alternative treatments are just as effective. We wouldn't be saying the same if RGIII decided to "treat" his recent knee injury with rest and a brace.

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan